X - Sacramento Valley Region - Porsche Club of America

Water, Water ----- EVERYWHERE!!!!
Porsche Parade 2009
by SVR Member Rik Larson
Keystone, Colorado
The 54th Porsche Parade organizers had been preaching to us for weeks and months before the event to make sure that we drank
LOTS of water before we arrived in Colorado (9300 + feet). And if that was not enough prodding, there were water bottles, water
glasses, and pitchers of water everywhere you went ----- the conference center, goodie store, at the social hours ---EVERYWHERE!!!!
And because of the elevation, drinking much alcohol was likely to make you tipsy very quickly. Needless to say, the alcohol consumed
at this Porsche Parade did not set any records.
There were a couple of major surprises at the Porsche Parade : the “preview” of the Panamera (more like the North American introduction
that will occur at the Pebble Beach Concours in August); and the lack of Porsche AG representatives and Porsche family at
the event. Seems that the discussions between VW and Porsche as to who was going to own who were in deep talks. The Panamera
“preview” is up on YouTube (check out the information at www.pca.org, and click on the PCA News button).
More than 800 cars (1800 people) attend the event hosted by Alpine Mountain and Rocky Mountain Regions. Zone 7 had more
than 50 cars attend. Loma Prieta Region put together a “Posse to the Porsche Parade” while other regions traveled to the event in
small groups and some even flew. One place that was not to be missed was Mom’s café in Salina, Utah ----- outstanding breakfasts
and lunches.
(Photo by Greg Adams from GGR of Zone 7 folks that cleaned house by winning 3 of the 4 classes in the TSD rally)
Many of the Zone 7 entrants got together on Sunday night to socialize and get acuminated to the altitude (giving new meaning to
the term “attitude adjustment”). Parade “check-in” occurred on Monday with the traditional welcome party held that evening. It was
a buffet style event. Things took a while to get started so some eagle-eyed folks noticed that the dessert buffet table was unguarded
and started ‘sampling’ early.
The concours was held on Tuesday (everyone essentially bussed out to the site). Two cars from Zone 7 were entered: the Johansens
from SVR with their 928, and Su Kemper and Cam Warren with their yellow ‘pretzel’ Targa. The TSD rally was held on Wednesday
and Zone 7 repeated their performance at the 2004 Fort Worth Parade by winning 3 of the 4 classes. Thursday was the autocross
(can you believe the performance problems at 9300 feet?). It was a first and second gear course. And if you took your Cayman and
left it in first gear (rev limiter time), then you won your class in the Showroom Stock category. Friday was the tech quiz (I took
dead last again in class). It was also the day for numerous tech sessions. Terry Zaccone made a presentation on “Your Porsche was
born to autocross”. You can check out all the events (results, photos, etc.) at www.porscheparade2009.com. The September issue of
PANORAMA should have most of the issue dedicated to the Parade.
The 55th Porsche Parade (July 2010) will be held in St. Charles, Illinois (take Interstate 80 east for 2000 miles and turn left about
an hour before you get to Chicago). The 2011 Porsche Parade will be held in Vermont.
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